Activity 1
MY STRESS RESPONSE
by GEORGETTE E. ZALDIVAR
Essentially, stress is the body’s physiological reaction to feelings of emotional or physical tension or pressure. Research by Stanford psychology Assistant Professor Alia Crum concluded that seeing stress as a positive aspect of life, or eustress, rather than something to be avoided, is all related to being more productive at work, having better health, and even emotional well-being during times of high stress. However, at times, our body experiences distress that results in physiological reactions or clinical manifestations.
Personally, the clinical manifestations that I often experience as a result of stress are as follows:
HEADACHES: The experience of headaches may be attributed to troubles in the thyroid and adrenal glands. Some may experience mild symptoms due to such issues, including headaches and fatigue, when under physical stress.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION: The pineal gland secretes melatonin, a hormone linked to the body’s sleep-wake cycle. It aids in managing the circadian rhythm of the body so that you can go to sleep and stay asleep. Melatonin’s function and role in encouraging sleep in the brain can be impacted by interrupted or inadequate sleep.
FATIGUE: Our adrenal glands, which are tiny organs above the kidneys, often respond to stress by generating cortisol and other hormones. The theory of adrenal fatigue states that when people experience prolonged stress, their adrenal glands cannot supply the body with the hormones it needs. As a result, the adrenal glands don’t produce enough cortisol. Only when someone is physically stressed out may they experience mild symptoms, including fatigue.
References:
Endocrine Society. (2022, July 7). Adrenal Fatigue. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/adrenal-fatigue
Parker, C. B. (2016, April 9). Embracing stress is more important than reducing stress, Stanford psychologist says. Stanford News. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://news.stanford.edu/2015/05/07/stress-embrace-mcgonigal-050715/
Vinall, M. (2021, September 1). How Sleep Can Affect Your Hormone Levels, Plus 12 Ways to Sleep Deep. Healthline. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/how-sleep-can-affect-your-hormone-levels